5 Proven Reasons Why Pilates is Great For Your Mind

Between the lunges, the push-ups, the planks, and much more, your entire body is getting a major workout when you head to your Pilates Platinum class.

In a normal workout you may quit once you get tired, but when it comes to Pilates, that is not the case. In fact, things are really just getting started once your muscles start to tire.

With this style of workout, (Pilates done on a Megaformer in particular), your muscles are worked to the point of absolute exhaustion. And this exhaustion manifests itself in the form of The Pilates Shake.

Don’t fear that shake.

Rather, embrace it. That shake is what will build your long and lean muscles.

However, your abs, your legs, and your arms aren’t the only muscles that will be built in your L.A. Megaformer Pilates class.

The most important muscle you’ll be working in this class is your mind. Yes, you heard that right — Pilates is great for your mind.

Read on to find out why.

Pilates: A Workout For Your Mind

The mental benefits of your Pilates class may be the best thing you get out of this workout.

Here are the highlights of what your brain stands to gain from this fabulous exercise.

1. Better Focus

Because the poses and exercises in Pilates are so challenging, you don’t have much of a chance to let your brain wander to that looming to-do list, or the emails you haven’t responded to yet.

Instead, you’re forced to focus on what is going on right here, right now in class.

In order to execute each movement correctly, you have to pay attention to your instructor and the directions s/he is giving you.

To properly tap into working your muscles, you must get in tune with how your muscles are feeling, what they are doing, and how each little movement affects them.

You can’t expect to get in the zone without some serious focus

And that focus you practice in your Pilates class translates to outside of class. You will find yourself building your mental strength to focus in other areas of your life.

2. Better Attitude

There are a number of reasons you may come out of your Pilates class with a better attitude.

First of all, you are exercising. That releases endorphins, which makes you happier.

Secondly, you are working to improve yourself, so that is always a mood booster.

4. Better Sleep

Yes, it is true that any exercise you engage in will help you sleep better.

However, because Pilates requires so much mental and physical focus simultaneously, students of Pilates sleep better than those who engage in less mentally-focused workouts.

By the end of the day, you have exhausted not only your core muscles, but your brain muscles as well.

A tired and quieted mind means better sleep.

5. Better Brain Flexibility

Learning something new that requires the amount of focus Pilates does changes your brain, and makes it more flexible to take in additional new information.

Even if you’ve been doing Pilates for a while, the class is not the same every time. Each class is different, and each instructor does things in a unique way, so you’ll constantly be challenging your brain to be flexible and ready for a new routine.

So don’t get too confident about finally mastering that French Twist — you never know when your instructor will switch things up!